INTEGRATING THE PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRITY TO PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NAKHON SI THAMMARAT PROVINCE

Abstract

Nakhon Si Thammarat Province possesses a complete administrative structure in accordance with legal and institutional frameworks. Its citizens are politically active and take pride in their local ethical capital as the “City of Dharma.” However, the political landscape remains influenced by patronage systems and personal networks, causing public participation to focus primarily on periodic elections rather than continuous policy oversight. Currently, the province is in a transition phase requiring new mechanisms to enhance transparency and bridge the gap between the state and the people. By integrating existing ethical capital into governance, the province aims to elevate formal participation toward a “Creative Democracy” that prioritizes collective well-being.

  Theoretically, participatory and deliberative democracy can only achieve completion when integrated with a virtue system. This integration uses the “Threefold Integrity” (integrity in action, speech, and thought) as its core, supplemented by the Aparihaniyadhamma (conditions of social welfare) and Saraniyadhamma (virtues of fraternal living). These principles serve as ethical safeguards and peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms, facilitating a shift from authoritarian governance toward a system centered on social values and public happiness.

  The research has developed a new body of knowledge through the “NST-Creative Integrity Model,” an integrated governance framework comprising 4 dimensions: (1) Leadership: Leaders must utilize mental integrity as their compass and serve as ethical role models; (2) Active Citizenship: Developing democratic consciousness through the “Bowon” mechanism (Home, Temple, and School); (3) Process Innovation: Utilizing digital technology and Open Data systems to ensure transparency in every stage of public policy; and (4) Social Outcomes: Fostering trust between the state and the citizens to achieve sustainable development and peace in Nakhon Si Thammarat.